Via-based Handheld Game Console Runs PC Games 208
An anonymous reader writes "Via Technologies has teamed up with Ministry of Mobile Affairs (no, it's not a government agency) to build a handheld game console based on Windows XP Embedded that runs existing PC games. Described as the world's first handheld gaming device based on the x86 architecture, the Eve Mobile Gaming Console is said to be capable of instantly running thousands of existing PC games. Eve's embedded computer is built around a 533MHz Via Eden-N processor (which supports SSE and MMX) equipped with 128MB DDR266 SDRAM, and a 20GB hard drive. A built-in 4-inch LCD screen supports resolutions up to 640 x 480 pixels." The initial impressions are pretty grim, and the form factor leaves something to be desired, at least for a product vying for a share of the GBA market.
Solution in search of a problem (Score:5, Insightful)
"It's funny that you say that it comes out of nowhere," said Andrew "Bunnie" Hwang, the "minister of mobile affairs" at The Ministry of Mobile Affairs (MoMA), based in San Diego. "It actually fills a vacuum in the market," of an X86-based handheld, he said.
It actually gets better when he explains that you can pay to "unlock" the device (like hackers won't figure this out within a day or two...":
If a user wishes, Hwang added, he can purchase a separate SIM card "for a reasonable price" that will completely unlock the console, so users can download whatever content they wish.
I guess we will see what happens in the marketplace.....
Happy Trails!
Erick
bring back the emulators (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Is that a Moma in your pocket? (Score:4, Insightful)
A detachable screen? I though the form factor in the renderings was bad, but a detachable screen is worse! What happens if you lose the screen -- will they send you a replacement? How are they going to keep the contacts clean?
It can play PC Games but.... (Score:5, Insightful)
nice.. (Score:3, Insightful)
would be fucking awesome for emulators and stuff like that though..
but I'll put my dollar on the bet that says "nice research project for pr purposes, to be never really hit the market properly if at all."
Existing games. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It can play PC Games but.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Forget gaming - this gadget has other uses (Score:5, Insightful)
Looks like a low power server to me. Or a GPS unit with software you can update. I'd sit one on the dash of my van.
It'd also be great for emulation. The thing just screams MAME. Or Ultimate Amiga Emulator.
How about portable network analyzer? It'll probably run standard Linux distros.
This thing is not a toy. Well..ok. It is a toy, but it's useful too.
Weaselmancer
Can it run outlook or palm desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes it wont sync but it would be nice to use it as a pda/calculator/game machine. Why settle on just one this.
Hmm maybe if any VIA employee's are reading this, you may want to consider mathmatical keys and a mini qwerty keybord. If it runs more things than games you could expand your marketshare.
Re:Solution in search of a problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Can you say iOpener?
LK
CD-ROM (Score:5, Insightful)
*COUGH* vaporware *COUGH*
I might buy one... (Score:4, Insightful)
I mean, look at the thing. $500, then you get to pay more to turn on the disabled features? A weird, non-foldable shape that won't fit in a pocket and might not even fit in a briefcase? This thing is a trainwreck of a product.
I just hope the product engineers planned ahead for the dismal sales, and designed it to be easy to hack (bootable from USB, etc.)
This would make a decent little gadget for playing my old Atari 2600 games. The tiny screen wouldn't be a handicap and the controls are right there. If you can get MAME on it you could play quite a lot of stuff.
You could also use it as a "photo wallet" (each day on vacation, dump all your photos to its hard drive, look at them with the screen to verify that they are there, and wipe your camera's chips clean for the next day). It only has CompactFlash, though.
You could even use it as a universal remote for your home; with 802.11 networking, it could talk to a computer and you could then do anything.
Of course you could use it as a portable audio/video player, if you can deal with the awkward shape.
Let's hope they make lots of these things before they figure out that no one wants them; they'll be really cheap!
steveha
Re:It can play PC Games but.... (Score:3, Insightful)
In other words, the standard set of controls on a typical console game pad these days.
So, this will be great for playing any game that can be mapped to those controls, and doesn't need more performance than a VIA Eden chip at 533 MHz can provide. (Hint: Doom III is not going to run on this thing.) Oh, and don't forget that the screen is only 4 inches, so you'll never play games like StarCraft on it unless you have eyes like an eagle.
Summary: this would be great for playing old console games, if anyone bothered to port them from the console to this thing. And it would be great for arcade emulation for low-detail games.
Would you pay over $500 for a hard-to-carry gadget that could only do that? Me neither.
steveha
VIA vs. VAIO (Score:5, Insightful)
My analysis (Score:4, Insightful)
The reason there's a vaccuum in that segment of the market is that, at this point, anything that fits that vaccuum is going to SUCK!
Honestly, what games are there for the PC platform that A) require only 640x480, B) run adequately at 500-odd mHz/128MB RAM, and C) require only a D-pad and four buttons to control? I sounds like this overpriced toy is going to require games written specially for it, so what's the point of making it x86 PC compatible?
Re:Is that a Moma in your pocket? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Oooh! Wing commander! Hope I can free up 640k! (Score:1, Insightful)
Half life
counter strike
Unreal tournament
quake 3
age of empires 1/2
thief 1/2
And many others... everything on top of win2k server. Maybe you should learn how to give good use to old hardware.
Re:Is that a Moma in your pocket? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:First handheld device ! (Score:4, Insightful)
Um, ok?
1 - Don't be silly, I use XP on one of my machines daily and I haven't had a bluescreen in more than a year. Last time I did it was bad memory.
2 - I get slightly better battery life on my laptop in XP compared to linux - About 15 minutes better. I could probably eek out a bit more in linux, but the point is neither has a big advantage.
3 - The XP machine mentioned in point one hasn't been reinstalled in an even longer time period than the last bluescreen.
4 - No real argument here, MS ships with atrocious defaults regarding security.
Its mildly funny, and certainly not a troll, but its not exactly accurate.
Great technology, poor execution (Score:4, Insightful)
Needless to say, this could be fixed so easily:
I think the biggest flaw of this product is that they decided not to follow through on a promising idea. It's a portable mini PC tuned for gaming, for chrissakes! Gadgeteers would love that thing if it only allowed them to tinker with it!